Anthropology is the social science that focuses on the study of human beings, emphasizing their social, cultural and physical development. Cultural anthropology and physical anthropology are two distinct specialties within the broader discipline. Although cultural and physical anthropologists strive to understand human beings and society, they emphasize different aspects of human development.

Identification

Cultural anthropology, as the name suggests, studies human beings by examining the culture of different groups and societies. Culture refers to the collection of a society’s beliefs, values, customs and traditions, according to the Anthropology Department at Wichita State University in Kansas. Cultural anthropologists study all aspects of human society, including family units, political and economic systems, religious beliefs, and even the ways in which societies feed and clothe themselves. Physical anthropology, in contrast, emphasizes the biological development of humans over time. Human evolution is a major element of physical anthropology, which is sometimes called biological anthropology. Physical anthropologists study how people adapt to their physical environment, as well as how culture and biology work together to shape human development, according to the American Anthropological Association.

Cultural Anthropology Research

The research methods physical and cultural anthropologists employ help define the differences between the two specialties. The American Anthropological Association reports that cultural anthropology emphasizes participant observation as a research technique. Under this method, researchers immerse themselves for an extended length of time in the society or group they wish to study. An example would be an anthropologist studying a tribe in a remote part of the world by living among the tribe’s members for months at a time. By participating in the group’s daily life, the researcher gains first-hand knowledge of the culture and how the group contends with the challenges of everyday life.

Physical Anthropology Research

Physical anthropologists employ research techniques similar to those of biologists and paleontologists. To understand human physical development and evolution, physical anthropologists study prehistoric evidence, fossil records, other primates (such as monkeys and apes), and the biology and genetics of living humans. Although physical anthropologists may conduct field research similar to that of their counterparts in cultural anthropology, much of their work may occur in a laboratory setting.

Effects

Through their study of human cultures and societies, cultural anthropologists can yield valuable insights into the behavior patterns of human societies and help understand how different societies approach such concerns as education, health, power and justice. Research by cultural anthropologists helps reveal the similarities and differences in the ways human societies approach these and other issues. In contrast, physical anthropologists’ work provides greater understanding of human evolution over time, improving knowledge of human responses to disease and other physical challenges, according to the American Anthropological Association. Some physical anthropologists, known as forensic anthropologists, apply their knowledge to assist law enforcement authorities, analyzing skeletal evidence to determine cause of death and even identify unknown remains.